no report yet
Hatchback/liftgate: lock
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
2003 Dodge CaravanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 195 owner complaints about the 2003 Dodge Caravan, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 24, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Dodge Caravan has problems
195 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
41Steering2 crash/fire/injury
31Service brakes, hydraulic3 crash/fire/injury
29Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
22Power train
17Engine and engine cooling3 crash/fire/injury
14Air bags
11Fuel system, gasoline
10Exterior lighting
8Tires
5917 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 41 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 31 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 1 |
| Power train | 22 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 3 |
| Air bags | 14 | 8 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 11 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 1 |
| Tires | 8 | 1 |
| 17 other systems | 59 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2003 Dodge Caravan recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Risk. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
no report yet
Structure
Risk. THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
35kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 32 steering complaints. 94% were reported before 100,000 miles.
12under 30k miles30under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other Caravan year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Caravan median. How we score
'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 Dodge Caravan, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine Stall After RefuelingNo recall
In owners' words
What Caravan owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
I HAD ALREADY SENT INFO TO DOL (BELOW) ON 03 CARAVAN I FROM UNLICENSED DEALER MICHAEL RANKIN. PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT FORM INATTACHMENT -IT'S TOO LONG TO ADD. THEY'RE IN PROCESS OF CHARGING MICHAEL RANKIN ON 12 COUNTS FOR DIFFERENT VEHICLES SOLD,AND ASESSING MONETARY FINES. I HAVE DONE TRANSMISSION…
Own a 2003 Caravan?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.